REDLANDS >> The city’s Christmas gift this year has come in the form of a contract with local artists Dan and Dina Romero to construct a public art clock sculpture in Ed Hales Park.

The City Council approved the contract Tuesday for the “Sister Cities Clock Tower,” a year and a half after Mayor Paul Foster first called on the community to support a piece of public art in downtown.

“Merry Christmas to the city for this gift,” Foster said Tuesday.

In response to Foster’s request, the Cultural Arts Commission began looking for an artist and design to bring to the council. They selected the Romeros, Mentone residents and owners of Romero Metal Sculpture in Pomona.

In July, the City Council approved the project, which had a budget of $40,000 at the time.

The full cost was revised at $65,000. It is being fully funded through private donations.

The sculpture, which will be placed in the southern half of Ed Hales Park facing the intersection of State and Fifth streets, will have three clocks each representing Redlands’ sister cities. There will be a rolling ball kinetic feature in the center arch with a citrus tree motif.

It will be about 14 feet tall by 14 feet wide.

“The Cultural Arts Commission has considered many different artists and concepts on this project and we believe that the proposed sister cities clock tower reflects a fantastic blend of all that is Redlands, both past and present,” Commission Chair Danielle Trynoski said Tuesday.

The commission is recommending the city hire Electric Time Co. in Massachusetts to build the clocks, she said.

The Romeros’ work can be seen in Ontario and at the Google campus in Venice Beach.

“Dan Romero’s skill and craftsmanship is recognized around the world and he will be creating a wholly unique piece for Redlands,” Trynoski said.

Foster announced the public art initiative during his State of the City address in June 2015.

This is the first piece of art commissioned under the initiative, but will not be the only one, Foster said.

“Through the very generous donation of a single contributor, this project will move forward, but we also had the good fortune to have multiple contributions from other business and individuals within the city of Redlands,” Foster said.

The commission is currently reviewing a second opportunity for public art, he said.

Foster thanked commissioner Dennis Christensen for his work with the artist and donor.

“We’re very excited to be able to have two opportunities here thanks to the generosity of the donor that we have,” he said.